Martyrs: Glendale and the Revolution in Skye - Hardcover

Hutchinson, Roger

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1780273223 ISBN 13: 9781780273228

Publisher: Birlinn, 2016

Synopsis

In the 1830s and 1840s the district of Glendale on the island of Skye was swamped by immigrants cleared from other north Skye estates. The resultant overcrowding and over-use of land caused simmering discontent - not against the incomers, but against the landowners, who regarded their tenants as no more than chattels. This book is a definitive account of what happened when the powder-keg erupted and a full-scale land-war ensued. Pitched battles with police, factors and bailiffs, military intervention, arrests, trials, imprisonment and the personal intervention of the Prime Minister were to have huge consequences for crofters all over the Highlands, who, ultimately, were the victors. At the heart of the rising was a man named John MacPherson of Lower Milovaig in Glendale, a courageous, charismatic and articulate crofter who was twice imprisoned for leading a rebellion against a system which kept all but the wealthiest in a state of bitter servitude. MacPherson quickly became known as 'the Glendale Martyr'. Martyrs tells the story of John MacPherson, his comrades, his allies, his enemies and his final success.

About this title

About the Author:

Roger Hutchinson is an award-winning author and journalist. After working as an editor in London, in 1977 he joined the West Highland Free Press in Skye. Since then he has published thirteen books, including Polly: the True Story Behind Whisky Galore. He is still attached to the WHFP as editorialist and columnist, and has written for BBC Radio, The Scotsman, The Guardian, The Herald and The Literary Review. His book The Soap Man (Birlinn 2003) was shortlisted for the Saltire Scottish Book of the Year (2004). Calum's Road has been a huge bestseller, shortlisted for the Ondaatje Prize (2007) with film rights sold.

Review:

Roger Hutchinson is an award-winning author and journalist, who has written for, amongst others, the West Highland Free Press, the Scotsman, Guardian, Herald and the Literary Review. He has written a number of bestselling books, including Polly: the True Story behind Whisky Galore, The Soap Man, which was shortlisted for the Saltire Scottish Book of the Year (2004) and Calum's Road (2007), which was shortlisted for the Royal Society of Literature's Ondaatje Prize.

About this edition

• Publisher: Birlinn
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 1780273223
• ISBN 13: 9781780273228
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 224